State Fair Bands: What makes them hum

Friday

Sep 8, 2017 at 1:01 AM

Mary Clarkin

It is not clear if the vitamin C and chewable multi-mega vitamins requested on the Kansas State Fair contract rider for The Charlie Daniels Band are for the country music singer or his band or crew. But Daniels will turn 81 in October.

Daniels will fiddle and sing Sept. 12 in the fairgrounds’ Nex-Tech Wireless Grandstand. His contract with the State Fair includes a rider that listed the equipment, beverages and food the band requested while it is here. Besides vitamins, it also asked for hot soup – “MUST HAVE” – and a case of Bud Light in cans and a case of Blue Moon in bottles. The State Fair stamped “Alcohol Not Provided” on entertainers’ submitted requests.

Most musicians and their entourages coming to this year’s State Fair appear to have healthy diets. Fresh fruits and vegetables were frequent requests. Chevelle, performing Sept. 16, asked for regular and herbal teas and milk “(low-fat, skim and lactaid).”

Some bands – including Survivor, appearing Sept. 8 - have vegans in their entourage. TobyMac’s crew is fueled by a rotating menu on the road. He will perform Sept. 13, and Wednesday lunch is grilled cheese sandwiches and Wednesday dinner is broiled or baked fish and baked chicken.

Los Lonely Boys keeps it simple. Its list included 16 Kraft American singles and Oscar Mayer bologna, as well as peanut butter and jelly, and chips and salsa.

Singer Josh Turner will perform Sept. 9, and his rider cautioned: “Due to life threatening food allergies, no pine nuts anywhere, anytime in any food as an ingredient or garnish.”